Patriots call BS: Rob Gronkowski details why he didn't return with New England

In the spring of 2019, Rob Gronkowski had Patriots nation on the edge of their seats; waiting to hear whether or not he was going to retire. The Patriots were coming off a superbowl 53 victory and so Gronkowski was given time. Gronkowski ultimately decided to hang up his cleats.

The Patriots had missed their opportunity to trade Gronkowski, who had threatened to retire if the Patriots traded him to the lions, years back. Gronk went as far to say he would only play with Brady.

Clutch Points Virgil Villeneuva wrote "Per WEEI 93.7 FM, Rob Gronkowski said that he’s always been curious about what it’s like to play somewhere else. This has been lingering on his mind before stepping foot in the NFL and after retiring. This curiosity was satisfied when an opportunity popped up by way of the Tambay Bay Buccaneers securing the Tom Brady’s signing."

Gronkowski said  “No, no that actually was really never the case. As a player, you always want to see what it’s like somewhere else. [I] thought of that before definitely after playing nine years in the NFL and also thought about it when I came out of retirement. This is an opportunity to go see what it’s like somewhere else, to go see what it’s like in the NFL on another squad. There’s so many players that bounce around on so many different teams. I loved my time in New England, no doubt about it. But it was another opportunity that presented.But no, we never really ever talked about that before. It kind of just happened. [With] my retirement and him hitting free agency, it kind of just lined up like that.”

Gronk who refused a trade, now comes out of retirement to play in Tampa? Gronk could've continued to play in 2019 and then demand to be traded to Tampa. He still would've had power.  Gronkowski no longer wanted to play for the Patriots. But why?

Gronkowski was winning and getting paid, so who cares about anything else right? The Patriots, while they might not completely stop players from being themselves, are still very strict. The Patriots are treated like a corporation. Personal have to still watch everything they say or do. 

On top of that, there have been numerous stories of players coming or going from New England, who talk about how lax everything is. That other teams don't put in the work, that players aren't required to do as much. The It's treated like a game elsewhere, instead of a job.

Villeneuva goes on to say Gronkowski "looks happy", well good for Gronkowski. If he wants to go someplace that hasn't won a superbowl since Tim Brown was a Raider, good for him. That's what happens to teams who don't put in the work. It's why everyone hates the Patriots. 

So Gronk and his quarterback can have "fun again" in Tampa, they can play a couple of games between 2020 and 2021; in the mean time The Patriots are working towards winning their seventh superbowl because that's what it takes to do so!